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Sanyo pops out hand-size HD camcorder

Michael Kanellos Staff Writer, CNET News.com
Michael Kanellos is editor at large at CNET News.com, where he covers hardware, research and development, start-ups and the tech industry overseas.
Michael Kanellos

Back in late 2004, Sony introduced the first high-definition camcorder for consumers. It costs around $2,000 and took two hands to operate without shaking. JVC also came out with an HD camera.

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Credit: Sanyo

Expect such cameras to become more common this year. Sanyo, for instance, will showcase the HD1 at the Computer Electronics Show in Las Vegas this week. Based around the same design of the palm-size video cameras Sanyo already sells under the Xacti brand, the HD1 can capture HD-quality video, as well as 5.1-megapixel stills.

Other companies will come out with HD cameras this year because chips from companies such as Ambarella are making it possible to economically produce HD camcorders.